When international students come to Australia, most arrive with two main goals in mind: earn a quality education and open up better career opportunities. But for many, there’s a third, unspoken dream—making the transition from a Student Visa to Permanent Residency and eventually calling Australia home.
At Pathway to Aus, we’ve worked with countless students who’ve gone down this road. In this blog, we want to share a real story of one of our clients. She started out like many others—on a student visa—and step by step built her way towards a skilled migration visa that puts her on the path to permanent residency.
Starting as an International Student
Our client began her Australian journey by enrolling in a Bachelor of Psychological Science at Griffith University. She completed her degree in 2020. At first, her main focus was the same as most students—get through assignments, finish exams, graduate, and enjoy student life.
But graduation brought up the big question: what’s next?
For her, the answer was to stay in Australia and see where her career in psychology could take her. That’s when the next part of her journey began.
The Graduate Work Visa – Keeping the Door Open
In March 2021, she applied for a Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485). This visa is often the bridge between studying and working. It gives international graduates a chance to stay on after finishing their degree.
It’s not tied to one employer, which makes it flexible. For her, it was the opportunity to gain real work experience in her field. Soon after, she found a role as a Behavioural Therapist.
That job was more than just a paycheck. It gave her the exact type of work experience she would later need to move forward with her migration plans.
Building the Right Work Experience
One of the key challenges for anyone aiming for skilled migration is the skills assessment. To be assessed positively as a psychotherapist, you don’t just need the degree. You also need at least 12 months of post-graduation work experience in a relevant role.
She committed herself to her job as a behavioural therapist and built up that crucial year of experience. By the end of it, she was in a much stronger position to apply for her skills assessment.
The Skills Assessment
When she had both her degree and her 12 months of experience, we helped her apply to VetAssess, the authority that handles skills assessments for her occupation.
This was an important milestone. Without the assessment, she wouldn’t be able to move forward to the next stage. With it, she now had official recognition that her skills were valid, needed, and at the right level for Australia’s skilled migration program.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
With the skills assessment in hand, the next step was to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI). Think of this as raising your hand and saying to the government: “Here’s who I am, here’s what I bring to the table, and I’d like to be considered for a skilled visa.”
Then in December 2023, we submitted her EOI to Queensland, highlighting her age, education, work history, and English ability.
Read on to the latest update: Australia Visa PTE Score Changes Take Effect August 7, 2025
The Invitation to Apply
Three months later, in March 2024, she got the news every applicant hoped for. It’s an invitation to apply for a skilled visa from Queensland Migration!
By then, she had 90 points. On paper, that looks very high, but it’s worth noting that the 491 Skilled Work Regional visa adds an extra 15 points through state nomination. That meant her base score was 75, boosted to 90. Thanks to the nomination.
Read on: Where Is The Best Regional Place to Study in Australia?
Visa Granted
From there, we lodged her visa application. In October 2024, her 491 Skilled Work Regional visa was officially approved.
This visa gives her the right to live and work in regional Australia and puts her firmly on track to apply for permanent residency down the line.
What We Can Learn from Her Story
Her experience is just one story but it’s also a clear example of how many students can move from studying to permanent residency in Australia. The path usually looks something like this:
- Study in Australia – Complete a course that’s linked to an occupation in demand.
- Graduate Work Visa – Apply for the 485 visa to stay and gain local experience.
- Relevant Work Experience – Build at least 12 months of post-qualification work.
- Skills Assessment – Get your skills officially recognized by the assessing authority.
- Expression of Interest – Put yourself forward for skilled migration.
- State Nomination – Gain extra points and improve your chances of being invited.
- Visa Application – Apply for the skilled visa and continue toward permanent residency.
Why Guidance Makes All the Difference
This story might sound neat and straightforward, but in reality, migration is rarely simple. Points fluctuate, state requirements shift, and visa rules change more often than most people expect.
That’s where the right support matters. We, at Pathway to Aus, we don’t just help with student enrolments. We also provide migration advice, ensuring students don’t just study in Australia, but also position themselves for long-term success.
Final Thoughts
Studying in Australia isn’t just about earning a degree—it can also be the first chapter of building a future here. With the right planning, the pathway from student visa to permanent residency is achievable, just like it was for our clients.
If you’re considering studying in Australia or if you’ve already graduated and are wondering about your next steps, we’d be happy to talk with you.
📩 Get in touch with us today to explore your study options and map out your own pathway to residency.
